The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-12
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
A BulldoZing Speech by Senator Smith In
Behalf of His Party
In the Senate, yesterday morning, Immediate
~ after prayer by Senator Smith of Wells, Mr.
Shively offered resolution. by consent, TO au-
thorize the appointment by the Chair OF a COM
mittee of five to investigate the contracts for
food and supplies furnished patients in the be-
nevoent institutions in and near the city OF In
dianapolis. 1t also covered an investigation as
TO the sanitary condition of the institutions.
Mr.. Mcdonald hoped the resolution would
pass, and that the President of the Senate
would appoint committee that will 90 to the
bottom of this matter for the reason that the
people ought to know the truth, and for the fur
Their reason that a stop may be put to the lying
that has been INDUCED in about the manage
ment of these institutions.
Mr.. Huston stated that one would more
heartily ndorse the statement OF the Senator
from Whitley than himself. He was exceeding
ly anxious to find out who has been lying about
this matter
The President pro tem.-The Chair thought
the Senator knew.
Mr.. Huston-I think know.
Mr.. Fowler was in favor OF the resolution. not
because he desired 30 much to know who has
been lying. but TO know whether anybody has
been lying about the matter. 1t is due to the
legislators and to the people to make thorough
examination Of everything connected with these
institutions, and to ascertain whether not
they are conducted as they ought to be-
Mr.. Tharp said somebody has been lying about
the conduct of these institutions. AS he under
stood committee in the other end of the Capt.
so was engaged III investigating the institutions,
he heartily favored an investigation by tho Sen
ate committee, also, to see that the other end of
the Capitol make a correct report
MIR. Rahm, chairman of the Senate committee
on benevolent institutions, said that at different
times he had suggested a searching investiea-
ton of any charges that would be brought
against any of these institutions, Of the
charges that have appeared in the public prints,
but no member of the committee, either Repub-
lican or Democrat, has seen fit to pay any atten-
ton to his suggestion. There were no charges,
to his knowledge. unless the Senators take it for
granted that the charges which appeared in the
papers during the last political campaign
we'll founded. but he was glad to say the chair
man of the State central Republican commit
tee
Mr.. Huston 1.-THE gentleman referred to) said
he thought the charges published in the Cincin-
natl Commercial Gazette were true That is
reason why he wanted this investigation, be-
cause he expected to show every statement in
the Commercial Gazette to be true.
Mr. Wier moved to amend by adding to the
resolution: THAT any person or persons having
any knowledge OF abuses are invited to appear
before such com ittee; and that the Door-keeper
be instructed to provide a room tor the meeting
of said committee"
Mr.. Shlvely accepted the amendment.
Mr.. French thought this should be joint reso-
luton
Mr. Mcclure, In view of these charges having
been winded through this State until the winds
have grown sick of them, thought it very appro-
pirate to have competent committee appointed
to investigate the conduct of these institutions.
| Mr.. Smith, of Jennings, the president pro tenn.
of the Senate-Mr. Cox in the char-ssid just
| such a committee as is proposed by this resolu-
| ton ought to be appointed. and it ought to be
| empowered with all the facilities necessary to a
thorough and decent Investigation. 1t ought
to be done, not ouly in self-defense
of the Democratic party but it ought to
| be done in justification of the management of
these institutions The Democratic party
| is not party to condone fraud, oaime
or wrong anywhere. 1t has never feared
| an investigation; while that cannot be
said of the Republican party. It is true that
| So called civil-service commission-God only
| knows who created 1t, and God cares less about
| that than the Democrats do-went out to the In
| sane Asylum and made some kind of an examin-
| alton into its management, and made report
| for the especial purpose of assisting the Repub-
lican party in the last political campaign. The
| head of that commission was an ex-member of
| this body, William D. Foulke, a man Of great
| ability, man of very great cunning, a man of
| great wealth. While claiming not to be parti-
| san, he is one of the bitterest enemies the Dem
ocratic party ever had in the State. After this
| report was made, Senator Benjamin Harrison
| went all over the State reiterating and reaffrm-
| ing the charges made in the Foulke report; that
| patients were fed maggotty butter. cholera meat,
and were misused and abused, and he assured
| the people, upon his great character and great
prominence in the Nation, that the charges were
true He, the speaker, never believed them to
| be true, for he knew they were false.
| They we're made for political and party purposes
for the purpose of knitting the Democratic
party, because the Democratic party is respon
sible for the control and management of this in
| stitution. Why, Senator Harrison made The
statement in his speech in the speakers towr
| that it was race of diligence between the chol
fhnl yv,tee - h1a1 ha<
first for food at the Insane Hospital. There il
no doubt that is not true. He had been assured
by DR.. Fletcher himself that no such thing ever
happened there, but that the meat killed was in
spected by himself personally. and that he ap
piled all his skill a physician TO determin,
whether the meat was fit to be killed He sai(
the committee raised in the other end of tn,
Capitol was for the purpose of making partisan
| report, and for no other purpose
Mr.. Huston said the TRADE of abuse to whici
the minority on this floor have listened for tn,
last half hour has presented spectacle tina
stands without parallel in the history of Indiana
when the presiding officer comes upon the foo
of the Senete and INDUCES in personal illusions
threats and charges and makes as bitter a parti
san speech as he did. He did not propose l.
adopt this line in what little he hsd to say Tn
resolution under discussioa is one which b.
was heartily in sympathy. 1t is one tina
| should have been introduced by the maiorit
| upon this floor. X possible, to clear their skirt
: OF most damnable and infamous charges tha
3 went cnrefuted in the campaign of 1856 81
l did not believe Senator Harrison ever uttered
| greater truth than when he said it was a rae
r between the knife and the cholera as to whc
r would first catch the hog.
Q Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Dresser each made a fe
| remarks, and then came recess for Dime
| pending a demand for the previous question.
Afternoon Session.
Mr.. Bailey offered q preamble to the pendr
k resolution, recitirg that whereas William
d Foulke as the head Of so-called civil seryi'